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Writing Practice

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25 views4 pages

Writing Practice

Uploaded by

prvnhaclinh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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I.

WRITING
The School Uniform Question
1 In the 2013-2014 school year, one in five U.S. public schools required students to wear
uniforms, up from one in eight a decade earlier. This raises the question whether
individualism should be honored above all else, allowing public school students to make
decisions about clothing, or whether all students should be required to wear a uniform.
Although the right to express oneself among students is important to some extent, I believe
that school uniforms are the better choice for three reasons.

2 First, wearing school uniforms would help make students' lives simpler. This means that
they would no longer have to decide what to wear every morning, sometimes trying on outfit
after outfit in an effort to choose. The time saved from not having to search for a "cool" outfit
early in the morning would be significant. Students could spend more time having a proper
breakfast or reviewing class notes before going to school rather than staring at a closet full of
clothes. Wearing uniforms instead of street clothes would not only save time, but also
eliminate the stress often associated with this chore.

3 Second, school uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups and as


individuals. Uniforms give students the message that school is a special place for learning
while creating a feeling of unity among students. For example, when students do something
as a group, such as attend meetings in the auditorium or eat lunch in the cafeteria, the fact
that they all wear the same uniform gives them a sense of community. This sense of unity
may also reduce the number of negative incidents that occur in schools. Students who attend
schools that require the wearing of school uniforms actually feel safer than students who do
not attend these schools.

4 Finally, school uniforms would help make all students feel equal. Since students'
standards of living differ greatly from family to family, the liberty of choosing one’s own outfits
could be exploited as an opportunity to flaunt one’s wealth. Considering how this may affect
underprivileged students, implementing mandatory school uniforms would therefore make all
students look the same regardless of their financial status. Such a rule would also promote
pride and help to raise the self-esteem of students who cannot afford to wear expensive
clothing.

5 Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students who wear school uniforms cannot
express their individuality. This point has some merit because in countries such as the US,
individualism is a fundamental part of society, therefore, people should have the right to
express themselves without fear of punishment.

6 In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits of implementing mandatory


school uniforms for students, among them making students' lives simpler, encouraging them
to act more responsibly, and making them all feel equal. Public schools should require
uniforms in order to benefit both the students and society as a whole.
Analysis
Read the paragraphs in the sample writing above and put the ideas in the table below.
Point Explain Evidence Effect Link

1
Counterargument
The key to persuading the reader that your viewpoint is valid is to support it in every paragraph.
However, an argument essay is not complete without one counterargument. Think of the
counterargument as the strongest idea that someone would give you to show you that your ideas
are wrong. A solid argument essay shows that you have looked at all sides of an issue carefully.

Read the arguments. Then write a counterargument for each.


1. Animals should not be kept in zoos.
Counterargument: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ .
2. Schools need to replace paper books with e-books.
Counterargument: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ .
3. Everyone should learn how to drive.
Counterargument: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ .
4. The best way to learn a second language is to visit a foreign country.
Counterargument: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ .
5. People should become vegetarians because they are healthier than meat eaters.
Counterargument: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ .
6. Reality TV shows should be banned because they are not educational.
Counterargument: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________ .

2
II. WRITING PRACTICE
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free
time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual
teenager and society as a whole. Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience. Write at least 250 words.

Point Explain Evidence Effect Link

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